ORCHARD BEACH LAGOON, N.Y. -- After not competing last weekend, the Fairfield University women's rowing team did not seem affected by the brief hiatus in the schedule. The Stags returned to the water against Iona College today and earned gold in the varsity 8, the varsity 4, and the second varsity 8.
In varsity 8 action, Fairfield's varsity 8 took home first place with a time of 6:26.9, well ahead of Iona's run of 6:40 1. The Stags also placed its second varsity 8 boat in the event and it came away with third place by finishing the course in 6:41.6. The varsity 8 shell included
Brenna McDonnell,
Ana McDonough,
Caroline Maroney,
Mallory Burlington,
Molly Roche,
Grace Fallon, Ani Dennen,
Bethany Gove, and coxswain
Laura Mason. The second varsity boat was comprised by
McKenzie Cunningham,
Katrina Kirchgaesser,
Mariel Staffier,
Rebecca Patti,
Maggie Ethier,
Morgan Connell,
Madison McSherry, Sam Altomare, and coxswain
Faith Kenny.
The Stags placed its third varsity 8 in the second varsity 8 race and it proved to be effective as it secured first place with a time of 7:49.1 which was 20 seconds better than the Gaels' run of 8;09.9. The winning entry consisted of Jess Demarse, Abby Morrill,
Nicole Chrysler,
Brook Sillart,
Sara Middlebrook,
Aileen Morley-McLaughlin, Kait Sweeney, Erka Korda, and coxswain Meg Smith.
The varsity 4 completed the day and the Stags' A boat provided the excitement with a third gold medal for the visiting squad. The varsity 4A secured first place by running the course with a time of 7:43.7 behind the efforts of
Kelsey Carthew,
Maggie O'Donnell,
Eileen Keenan,
Allison Sloan, and coxswain Katie Clark. Iona's two boats occupied the next two slots in the standing as the A boat completed the course in 7:54.3 and the B boat secured third place in 8:39.8. Fairfield's varsity 4B took home fourth place (8:47.2) with
Audrey Sedensky, Erin Dobbs,
Mariel Staffier,
Michaela Bassett, and coxswain
Brianna Perez.
The Stags will return to action on May 10-11 when they compete at the Dad Vail Championships in Philadelphia, Pa.
